Break In Period
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
2002 C230K
Break In Period
Greetings,
I just registered here after reading these forums for about a month (found the forums just after I bought my C-Coupe) and it really seems to be a wealth of information.
My question - how long do you all feel the break-in period should be? The manual says about 1,000 miles. I am up to about 850 miles, and have kept the rpms under 4500, and (tried) to keep the max. speed to under 75 mph. Is this about right? And about how much longer until I can let it loose
?
Thanks for all your help,
Mike
BTW - I have the 6 speed manual.
I just registered here after reading these forums for about a month (found the forums just after I bought my C-Coupe) and it really seems to be a wealth of information.
My question - how long do you all feel the break-in period should be? The manual says about 1,000 miles. I am up to about 850 miles, and have kept the rpms under 4500, and (tried) to keep the max. speed to under 75 mph. Is this about right? And about how much longer until I can let it loose
?Thanks for all your help,
Mike
BTW - I have the 6 speed manual.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,924
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
honestly I never broke my car in, and 14K miles later no problems. I didnt dog the car but with 8 miles on it i was running at full throttle, 80mph+ hasnt really bothered me any. But to each his own. I say go ahead and start running it harder as you feel comfortable doing it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Stockholm, Sweden
C200 Kompressor
Hang out! It's only 150 miles left on your break in period. Follow the advice in the manual, and you can't go wrong. Probably nothing at all will happen if you stomp the throttle and let the rev-limiter engage, but why gamle?
Congrats on your new car and welcome to MBworld!
Congrats on your new car and welcome to MBworld!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 867
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From: New Jersey
2008 C300 Sport
The break-in is 1000 miles. You're almost there. Abusing the break-in period will give you some delightfully expensive engine problems somewhere in the range of 35,000 - 50,000 miles down the road.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
I did the 1k, just like it says to. Don't think that it's worth it to do any less. Besides, if there are problems to be had with a non-proper break-in, it'll occur towards the end of the car's life, not the beginning, so 14k isn't enough to tell if you've screwed up the car at all.
Not saying that Timmy's done anything wrong, but I think that 1k of driving like a 50-year-old is worth for the car's long-term happiness.
Be patient - only 150 left! Wait until your car really opens up and the manny becomes more compliant.
Not saying that Timmy's done anything wrong, but I think that 1k of driving like a 50-year-old is worth for the car's long-term happiness.
Be patient - only 150 left! Wait until your car really opens up and the manny becomes more compliant.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,924
Likes: 1
From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
If I had it to do again, I would have been easier on it. But the salesmonkey never told me I needed to. I didnt read the manual either. Live and learn
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
C230 K Coupe
My sales jagoff told me to drive the car hard otherwise I'd have a car that got used to clutch and tranny shifing too early.
I wanted to believe him so I drove the car pretty hard for 4 days... until I read the manual.
After that when she hit 1K miles, I started cranking again.
I wanted to believe him so I drove the car pretty hard for 4 days... until I read the manual.
After that when she hit 1K miles, I started cranking again.
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 500
Likes: 1
From: NYC
C32 AMG, C300 Sport
let it settle for about 1200 miles....
I would not be at full throttle before 1000 miles as noted but everyone has different thoughts on that one. If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, then it will be to your advantage to break it in so that it will last for the long haul. This doesnt mean that you cant drive somewhat spirited at times, but just dont dog it out for the first 1k. You will have plenty of time to have fun with it after the breakin time. It was tough for me as well, but I made it through and think it will benefit the longevity of the engine over the long haul. After the breakin period, it is also suggested that you change the oil. Good luck and most of all.... enjoy!
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Posts: n/a
I'm about to get my C230K in 3 weeks and was wondering the same... how much a break-in period should I realistically allow? and what kind of driving is best for breaking the car in?
Should I take it on a 1-2000 kms road trip the first weekend I have it? or is highway driving not preferred to city driving for breaking-in an engine?
Should I take it on a 1-2000 kms road trip the first weekend I have it? or is highway driving not preferred to city driving for breaking-in an engine?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 271
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From: Dexter, Michigan, USA
2002 C230k
At work we run new engines supplied by various manufacturers in our dyno cells. The break in periods range from a few hours of following some procedure to "Break in period? Don't worry about. Just run it."
Keep in mind these are dyno engines that see a lot harder life than 99% of the autos out there... (and also keep in miind none of them ever reach "100,000 miles" before they're obsolete and destroyed)
Point being, break in isn't as important as it once was. In the vehicles I've owned, the only problem I've ever had was from not running the dang thing hard enough during the initial miles! (Ducati 907, the rings never seated on the horizontal cylinder)
Keep in mind these are dyno engines that see a lot harder life than 99% of the autos out there... (and also keep in miind none of them ever reach "100,000 miles" before they're obsolete and destroyed)
Point being, break in isn't as important as it once was. In the vehicles I've owned, the only problem I've ever had was from not running the dang thing hard enough during the initial miles! (Ducati 907, the rings never seated on the horizontal cylinder)
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 81
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From: Arizona
C230 K Coupe
Originally posted by taylor192
... is highway driving not preferred to city driving for breaking-in an engine?
... is highway driving not preferred to city driving for breaking-in an engine?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 756
Likes: 1
From: Canada
I can't believe some of the responses here. Don't you realize that your engine was red-lined at the factory for a good period of time. The best thing you can do is drive your car normally. Its ok to have some fun and drive it in a spirited fashion even when new. The reason they talk about break-in in the manual is so some moron does not drive around at 6000 rpm consistently and blows his engine saying I thought you could do that.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 988
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From: Encino
2002 C230K
it's also there for you to vary engine speed so that the metal gets used to the expansion and contraction that comes with heating and cooling. if you rev high it's ok, just do it gradually.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,403
Likes: 21
From: South Florida
Fast Cars!
I knew u had to take it easy for the first 1000 miles but i couldent resist. 
I flored my car almost everyday since the seconed day i had it. always hit the red line and went 110 the 3rd day i had it with 30 miles. But now i have over 3000 miles and i dont floor it AS MUCH, but i still do. And i have no problems with it. I actually think it made my car faster than others. I knew someone that got a c coupe and drove it and mine felt quicker. Maybe it was just my imagination but oh well.
I decided to take it easy with my CLK430 so i did not floor it till 1,500 miles.
I flored my car almost everyday since the seconed day i had it. always hit the red line and went 110 the 3rd day i had it with 30 miles. But now i have over 3000 miles and i dont floor it AS MUCH, but i still do. And i have no problems with it. I actually think it made my car faster than others. I knew someone that got a c coupe and drove it and mine felt quicker. Maybe it was just my imagination but oh well. I decided to take it easy with my CLK430 so i did not floor it till 1,500 miles.
